Examining Your Smile
A dental checkup involves our team closely examining your smile. In addition to a visual exam, we will also use digital x-rays and intraoral cameras to obtain clear and detailed images of your teeth, roots, gums, and oral structures, so we can make a diagnosis and identify areas of concern in the early stages, all with precision and accuracy. We then create a treatment plan to address the concerns we discover, so you can obtain better oral health. Our team will watch for issues like tooth decay, infection, gingivitis, and gum disease, as well as TMJ disorder and bruxism. We also screen for oral cancer. These visits benefit kids and adults alike, helping your entire family in maintaining good oral health and a full smile.
Removing Plaque and Tartar
In the same visit, our team will help safeguard your family’s smiles by conducting a dental cleaning. A cleaning removes the plaque and tartar buildup that brushing and flossing alone cannot. The procedure will involve using an ultrasonic scaling device to gently breakup and remove the buildup with gentle vibrations. We also use a manual pick for the more stubborn areas. The procedure takes only a few minutes, and helps safeguard your smile from issues like tooth decay and gum disease. We then polish the teeth to not only brighten them, but to make it more difficult for plaque and tartar to adhere to them before your next cleaning visit.
Continuing Your Care at Home
We will also talk with you about better homecare habits, so you take care of your teeth and gums and protect them before you see us again for treatment. You should brush twice a day for at least two minutes each session, once in the morning and again before bed. You should use a fluoride toothpaste when you do, as this can help strengthen your outer enamel. Be sure you floss every evening before you brush the second time, as floss can remove what a toothbrush alone cannot reach.
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat your smile or about the importance of a regular checkup and cleaning visit, then contact our team today to learn more.
Talk to Your Hickory, NC, Dentist About General Dentistry
Our team wants to help you maintain your healthiest smile with a simple checkup every six months. To learn more about our approach to general dentistry, please contact our office in Hickory, NC, by calling (828) 328-5581.